Eccleshall's Matt Johnson is carrying on the family tradition when it comes to goalkeeping.

The 20-year-old has just won the Hallmark Security League Division One goalkeeper of the month award for October.

But when you consider his dad Richard was Eccleshall’s goalkeeper when they won promotion to the North West Counties League in 2003, and his older brother Sam is the former Port Vale and now current FC Halifax Town goalkeeper, then you can see it’s certainly in the genes.

Matt has been instrumental in helping to turn around Eccleshall’s fortunes, from a team which didn’t win a game throughout September to a team with two wins and a draw during October and they began this month with a 2-1 win at St Helens Town, their first away win of the season.

A change of manager has probably helped too, with Dave Dale taking over the reins from Paul Snape, but Johnson has played his part, which has come as no surprise to his dad Richard who has fond memories of his time at the club.

Read More

He explained: “Matt had lost a little interest in football, in fact I don’t think he played at all last season. He plays cricket for Porthill Park in the summer, but agreed to help Staffs County Senior League side Wolstanton United out when their keeper was unavailable and it just so happens they were playing Eccleshall.

“Matt had a good game and the Eccleshall manager asked if he was interested in joining them so he went along. He had to wait for his chance to get into the first team, but when Reece Quinn went back to Nantwich Town, Matt stepped in. He’s enjoying it and I think his interest has been rekindled again,” said Richard, who also had a spell at Leek Town before returning to Eccleshall where he ended his career at the age of 45.

“I loved my time at Eccleshall, it’s a great little club, well run and I like to see them doing well.”

Matt was on the books of Port Vale, but was released at the age of 16. His brother Sam, aged 24, was coached by Ronnie Sinclair at Stoke before he moved over the city to join Vale, where he made 23 first-team appearances, and was under the eye of Mark Grew. Sam had spells on loan at Stafford Rangers, Alfreton, Halifax and Gateshead before returning full time to Halifax on a two-year deal after he was released by Vale in the summer.

Read More

“They both wanted to become goalkeepers at a very young age. I hardly had a blade of grass on the back garden, because we were always out there practising,” recalled 53-year-old Richard, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, who still tries to juggle his job as a driving instructor with watching Matt play.

“I have managed to get over to Eccleshall a couple of times since Matt has started playing again and he has been doing well, but I’m not surprised. He’s about 6ft 4ins and built for goalkeeping. He really commands his area and he’s not afraid to come out and catch the ball, unlike a lot of keepers these days who opt to punch and I think if he continues to work hard then he can move on.”

Matt will be in action again on Saturday when Eccleshall welcome Carlisle City to Pershall Park in a Division One fixture.

A win would only lift the Eagles up one place if Chadderton fail to get anything from their home game against Cheadle Town.

But at least their results over the past couple of weeks have given them a seven-point cushion to the two teams sitting in the relegation zone.